But thanks to many letters -- including one from ACSS President Tim Behrens -- to the Health Benefits Committee prior to the meeting, the committee deferred action on those recommendations until the May 15, 2007, meeting, thereby giving ACSS and other organizations ample time to review the proposed changes, ask questions regarding utilization, demographics and behavior modification efforts, and offer alternative suggestions.

"An across-the-board increase for everyone is just a 'tax' to offset misuse," ACSS Executive Officer Mitchell Semer testified at the committee meeting. "Utilization data is insufficient unless demographic data is also supplied," he said.

In explaining who ACSS represents, Semer told the committee, "Excluded employees are not covered by or protected by a contract. They are excluded from collective bargaining and, therefore, the formulas related to what percent each employee can be charged for premium increases do not apply to excluded employees."

He then asked, "How will those proposed increases be applied to a group of state employees who have had their salaries depressed and have received only one COLA during the past six years?"

His reasoning and his questions resonated throughout the audience and, apparently, with committee members as well, because Chairman George Diehr respectfully requested that Mitch Semer meet with him briefly after the meeting.

When that meeting took place, Chairman Diehr thanked Mitch Semer for his careful explanation and asked for further information about excluded employees. Semer,  the only person testifying on behalf of state managers, supervisors and confidentials, provided Diehr and others much-needed details as he elaborated on the need for further input from all stakeholders.

The fight isn't over though. The increases will again be brought up for consideration -- and vote -- at the next CalPERS Health Benefits Committee meeting. Let ACSS know how you feel about them by sending an e-mail to acss@calcsea.org.

April 17, 2007